EMPOWERED! Empowered to
what? The days of this year have flipped
around the spiral calendar pages almost faster than we can keep track of. Some days are so delightful and memorable you
just want to go and flip them back so you can relive them again! Other days you want to give them an extra
push so that your spinning wheels can just be done for that day! As God’s child, there is something really rewarding
about reflecting on the many ways He has been with us all year long! How I love that when we take a peek at the
year that is about to end, we see a definite signature mark of God’s
faithfulness stamped all over our past 365 days! Sometimes He leaves love marks on us … His
whispers of love at desperately needed times – or out of nowhere … have served
to ignite within us the reminder that someone (Someone!) loves us for who we
are! Yes, loves us just like we are –
but too much to leave us that way! Isn’t
that empowering?! It is simply that
amazing love that enables us to face another 365 days of the unknown – without fear
or dread. His love causes us to embrace
our future days with solid hope and even with joyful expectation that He has it
all in His control! Isn’t that, too,
empowering?! It is so heartening that
the God of the universe knows us personally down to the most insignificant and
unflattering detail and loves us still!
That alone brings great significance to our lives; it tells us that He
values us and sees the treasure that He has placed within us! Empowering, yes! That God has once again chosen us as His star
characters in this life on His earth in 2013 to be used in specific ways that
no one else could accomplish is mind-boggling – when it should be
empowering! Recognizing that fact should
make us smile, should melt our hearts, and should touch us immeasurably! Yes, God could so easily do it ALL by Himself
– at the command of one spoken word or at the slightest movement of His
hand. But … HE CHOOSES US and offers us
the privilege of working alongside HIM! Talk
about empowering! On day one of the new
year we could not even imagine in our wildest dreams what all God would walk us
into ~ what all He would allow us the deep joy of being a part of! But He has!
And He does! This year has
brought with it a myriad of opportunities to live out the love of Jesus! Besides the pastoral ministry – the preaching
and teaching and leading - there’s the utmost necessity of seeking God, there’s
the planning and then the implementing. There
are all the behind the scenes, not-so-glorious opportunities to be a
blessing. The hands-on help with
physical labor: moving, carrying, cleaning,
fixing. The emotional support given: sitting in a hospital or emergency room
for hours, waiting with the sick and injured for the diagnosis. The physical
presence shared: just listening and caring, holding hands and praying
together. The counsel and direction
offered: seeking God for wisdom that we
lack, and then speaking boldly by His Spirit the needed words. The smiles, the notes, the phone calls, the
messages: taking time with a personal
touch to make a difference in someone’s life.
And so much more! You see, we are
all ministers of the good news of Jesus Christ!
Are you taking a backwards glance at how God has placed you in perfect
spots at pre-determined times for His planned purposes? Doing so will re-energize your desire for God
to do more in you and through you! What
all will this new year of 2014 hold?
Well, only God knows! We can only
imagine! But God’s Word gives us
constant clues that no matter what comes, He will be with us! This new year of 2014 is going to hold never-before-experienced
opportunities to be Jesus to many others.
Even one person that is changed for eternity because God put us in the
right place at the right time – is more than worth any struggles we may have to
endure! Circumstances may get more
difficult rather than easier, but we have God’s presence and His promises! We are empowered by the Spirit of God to
embrace the days to come, because by His Spirit … WE CAN! A prominent world figure, now deceased, once
said, “There is no passion to be found in playing small – in settling for a life
that is less than the one you are capable of living.” (Nelson Mandela) God’s Word is filled with similar words showing
us God’s desire for us to become ALL that He has ordained for us to be! We may not rise through the ranks in 2014 to
become a world leader or president or celebrity … but He has a specific role
for us to play and a specific audience needing to hear our voice and His
message. His empowering will ever be
available! Remember that what God calls
us to do … He will always enable us to do!
In fact, our church theme for this new year is: “Called To Do MORE ~ In 2-0-1-4!” Called, as led by God. And not just to DO more, but to BE more! And you can, and we can … because we are
empowered by the Spirit of the Living God!
Let’s arise to the greatness that God has placed within us! This is our time! Awaken!
Arise! Do! Be! All for the sake of the One who gave Himself
for us! Welcome, 2014! We embrace your arrival … eagerly!
REMEMBER . .
. When you think you are not good enough or cannot do it, read
this scripture again and again!
“Now when
they saw the boldness and unfettered eloquence of Peter and John and perceived
that they
were unlearned and untrained in the schools (common men with no educational
advantages),
they
marveled; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” ~ Acts 4:13
(That’s it!
Get with Jesus!)
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
